Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-11-25
The Main Building of Barnum's
Shows at Bridgeport, Conn,
Burned With Its Contents.
The Nenagerle and Trained Horses
Cremsted-Loss S7OO, O00-ThIrty
Elephants and a Lion Escape
The General Opinion Among Showmen
that tho fire was of Incendiery Origin
Work CT Rebuilding Begun

followed by general alarm and thous-
less than thirty minutess the big building
which was 6O0x200 feet and two stories in
height was entirely consumed. The first
intimation OF the fire was given by the
roaring of lions and tigers which seemed
to realize the impending danger. Next the
elephants struggled in their chains, but
in an incredible short time the flames
swept from one end of the huge structure
to the other. There were six Wstchmen
employed on the premises, but they were
helpless to check the flames. One Of the
men was in the horse building when his
lantern exploded ignitiug the hay and
straw. Five Of the wstcnmen have re-
ported, but one is missing. The upper
portion Of the building was filed
with hay and all the paraphernslia Of the
great show. Before the first alarm
ceased sounding the whole building was
enveloped, and no one dared to approach
the building, being fearful of the crazed
animals. Three elephants were burned
up ard thiriY-six broke from their fasten-
ings al dashed through the sides Of the
burning building. Their roars and trum-
petiDgs and sounds of distress were ter
rife. SIX elephants end large African
hIppOpotamus rushed about the streets,
presenting q sickening appearance. Their
sides were burned and great pieces OF
flesh foot square fell eff. Thirty eie-
plants and b large lion made their eg-
cape, and have sTar5ed off across the
country toward fairfield and Esston.
Great alarm has seized many residents Of
Lac West Eud aud they have taken refuge
within their houses and the windows
barred. VII lam Newman, Ghe elephant
trainer, is cut Of town, and the keepers
were not able in the excitement to herd
the frightened snimals. Ia the horse
rom were all the ring animals, tEsined
stations, ponies, etc. These
were GlI burned. In the upper
rooms were the tents, poles, seats, har-
ness, etc, for the entire show and these
too were destroyed. II the cat room
were birds, monkeys, three rninoceroses
hyenas, tigers, lions and ali the mensg-
erie which fell prey TO The flames. So
rapidly did the flames leap across the
main building that the fremen made no
attempt to save il, but furned ~their
DuilNkuSS
Car sheds, which they succeeded in aSv-
ing, bu. the heat YVES SO intense that this
was accomplished with the greatest diff
Guilty. The total loss is estimated at
$700,000 upon which there was
but $l00,0C0 Insurance. Before
the building went down Barnum's agents
were busy making arrangements for Oh
tanning a new lot Of attractions to supply
the loss. Mr.. BrothWeu, Barnun's
Bridgeport scent, stated that the show
building would be rebuilt, but not in
Bridgeport. The great show would prob
aoly go to Jersey City where better rail
road facilities csuld be hsd.
WatchmGn George NJ Riers was making
his round at 10 O'Clock, when he discov-
cred the fire in the corr er Of the building
where the horses are kept. He rushed
sTound the building 80 alarm the other
employees, when he was knocked senseiess
by some one. He lay unconscious for
twenty minutes. When he revived half OF
the building was in flames. He
a aakened the sleepers in the building
and some one rushed to an alarm box
half mile away end pulled it, negIecting
to sound the alarm from the box located
st the entrance to the grounds. This
caused half an hours. delay in the arrival
Of the fire department. When it did
come 1t could do nothing beyond saving
the adjacent buildings. In the meantime
twenty eight elephants were turned loose.
The white elephants were destroyed.
The other elephants rushed about the
city and one fell On man,
BREAKING THREE OF HIS RIBS
AND one leg. The old lion which was
often seen on top of the chariot IL tae
professions was hauled out OF the flames
by his keeper, William Bnckely. As soon
as he was out of the building the crowd
attempted to kill him by beating his head
with clubs and fired shots into him from
revolvers. He was secured and
placed IN pen, but broke
out and scaling a ten-foot fence took
refuge in barn where he killed SOW.
He was shot while making breakfast of
the fresh meat.
Eight men who were sweeping the
building barely escaped with their lives,
aud one who was sick was dragged off his
bed and out into the air.
At II O'Clock most of the elephants had
been corrslled. The rninoceros wss got
out of the building, but was
burned and cut in getting out of the cage,
The crowd seemed to possess desire
to kill all the animals. Only the cat ami.
mails were burned. The monkeys and
others were in other buildings. Many OF
the idols which are exhibited with the
show were also burned. The cries Of
THE BURNING ANIMALS
we're heart rending. Through the flames
could be seen tigers, leopards and other
cat animals dsshing frantie:lly about
their cages and finally succumbing to the
flames. The elephants rushed madly
about the streets lsshing their burned
and torn sides with their trunks and scst-
teripg the crowds in al directions
1t is reported that several men were
picked up, thrown over fences, and more
or less injured. The birds were al in
New York city. In the paint shop were
many Ct the handsome chariotS undergo
ing repairs. These were wheeled out, buf
not without injury. AZ Y O'Clock, whist
two hours before had been the home of
some of the wonders of the esrth, lay g
heap OF smouldering ruins, from
which assembled she odor of burn
ing flesh. The iron cages
were twisted al out Of shape. Among
the animals destroyed were tour ele-
plants, FIVE lions, seven leopards, six
panthers, four ksngaroos, six horses and
large number OF smsller beasts. Among
the elephents burned were Alice, Sam
son and the sacred white elephant. Oae